Our Chant at Treeleaf reads ...
The original in Sino-Japanese is ...
Here is a recitation in Japanese. (If you are wondering about the wig and shades, well, the Japanese Soto priest who makes these videos is very serious, but something of an online character and personality
) ...
He recites once, although some Soto priests and practitioners will recite thrice.
Here is a version from Eiheiji, the Soto Zen Head Temple, with the reciter soloing on the first line ...
Here a version from China, where their chanting is more lyrical than most chants in Japanese ....
Here is a mesmerizing version in Pali which can be heard all through Buddhist India and South Asia, and is very popular ...
This Rinzai Zen teacher in the US combines the Pali with a version in English. Her version expands on the shorter Chinese-Japanese and English version we recite ...
So, what is "Refuge?" Some modern folks may have difficulty with loaded terms such at that, given their other childhood religions. Really, it is just to rely upon, pour oneself into, find safety in, support and be supported by.
Buddha is the fellow in India long ago, but also all manifestations of Buddha everywhere in all time, and the whole of reality which is "Buddha" in boundless sense too. We rely upon, pour ourself into, find safety in, support and are supported by this.
Dharma is the Buddhist Teachings of Wisdom and Compassion, also vast and boundless as an ocean, which we rely upon, pour ourself into, find safety in, support and are supported by in our Practice and all Life.
Sangha is the community of fellow Buddhists, both at Treeleaf and in the wider world, and truly the whole world, whole universe is our Great Assembly, Great Community, which we rely upon, pour ourself into, find safety in, support and are supported by.
It somehow reminds me of this this wonderful song ... what Community is truly about.
Gassho, J
stlah
The Three Refuges Verse
(Sanki Raimon)
I take refuge in Buddha,
May all living beings embody the Great Way
and give rise to the highest aspiration (of enlightenment).
I take refuge in Dharma,
May all living beings enter deeply into the Sutras,
that Ocean of Wisdom.
I take refuge in Sangha,
May all living beings support harmony in the Community,
free from all hindrances.
(Sanki Raimon)
I take refuge in Buddha,
May all living beings embody the Great Way
and give rise to the highest aspiration (of enlightenment).
I take refuge in Dharma,
May all living beings enter deeply into the Sutras,
that Ocean of Wisdom.
I take refuge in Sangha,
May all living beings support harmony in the Community,
free from all hindrances.
The original in Sino-Japanese is ...
三帰礼文
自帰依仏, 当願衆生, 体解大道, 発無上意,
自帰依法, 当願衆生, 深入経蔵, 智慧如海,
自帰依僧, 当願衆生, 統理大衆, 一切無礙.
SANKI RAIMON
JI KI E BUTSU, TŌ GAN SHU JŌ, TAI GE DAI DŌ, HOTSU MU JŌ I.
JI KI E HŌ, TŌ GAN SHU JŌ, JIN NYŪ KYŌ ZŌ, CHI E NYO KAI.
JI KI E SŌ, TŌ GAN SHU JŌ, TŌ RI DAI SHŪ, IS-SAI MU GE.
自帰依仏, 当願衆生, 体解大道, 発無上意,
自帰依法, 当願衆生, 深入経蔵, 智慧如海,
自帰依僧, 当願衆生, 統理大衆, 一切無礙.
SANKI RAIMON
JI KI E BUTSU, TŌ GAN SHU JŌ, TAI GE DAI DŌ, HOTSU MU JŌ I.
JI KI E HŌ, TŌ GAN SHU JŌ, JIN NYŪ KYŌ ZŌ, CHI E NYO KAI.
JI KI E SŌ, TŌ GAN SHU JŌ, TŌ RI DAI SHŪ, IS-SAI MU GE.
Here is a recitation in Japanese. (If you are wondering about the wig and shades, well, the Japanese Soto priest who makes these videos is very serious, but something of an online character and personality
![Tongue](https://forum.treeleaf.org/core/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
He recites once, although some Soto priests and practitioners will recite thrice.
Here is a version from Eiheiji, the Soto Zen Head Temple, with the reciter soloing on the first line ...
Here a version from China, where their chanting is more lyrical than most chants in Japanese ....
Here is a mesmerizing version in Pali which can be heard all through Buddhist India and South Asia, and is very popular ...
This Rinzai Zen teacher in the US combines the Pali with a version in English. Her version expands on the shorter Chinese-Japanese and English version we recite ...
So, what is "Refuge?" Some modern folks may have difficulty with loaded terms such at that, given their other childhood religions. Really, it is just to rely upon, pour oneself into, find safety in, support and be supported by.
Buddha is the fellow in India long ago, but also all manifestations of Buddha everywhere in all time, and the whole of reality which is "Buddha" in boundless sense too. We rely upon, pour ourself into, find safety in, support and are supported by this.
Dharma is the Buddhist Teachings of Wisdom and Compassion, also vast and boundless as an ocean, which we rely upon, pour ourself into, find safety in, support and are supported by in our Practice and all Life.
Sangha is the community of fellow Buddhists, both at Treeleaf and in the wider world, and truly the whole world, whole universe is our Great Assembly, Great Community, which we rely upon, pour ourself into, find safety in, support and are supported by.
It somehow reminds me of this this wonderful song ... what Community is truly about.
Gassho, J
stlah
Comment